Fellowship of World Christians 'Working Together in Union with Christ'
CAN A TRULY BORN AGAIN CHILD OF GOD EVER GET LOST,WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Many people argue that if one is truly born again,he can never get lost again.There has been a lot of arguments about this, that it is often hard to know what to believe.What do you think? Please write in.Thanks...Cyril
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by shannon on -
Hello, Once saved always saved is NOT what scripture teaches. God's own words tell us that the teachers were guilty of covering God's word with whitewash when they were to be helping the 'Lost Lambs'
This is an interesting term God uses because "Lost Lamb" suggests that Lambs are the children of God and Lost, shows that they are are wayward in their direction and not secure in where they are to go.
All people cannot be lambs, as some may suggest that 'God loves all' Yes He did, but He no longer loves all because of those who openly deny His Son, they are enemies, so this term " Lost Lambs" cannot be applied to all of mankind. This term is specific to those who are chosen, whose name is in the Lambs book of life, it is our responsibility as stronger lambs, to keep the flock together. To do as Jesus did, leave the flock and go and seek out that lost lamb, just as He did with each and everyone of us as the beining of our faith.
Paul's words, of "no height, nor depth can separate the love of God" I'm paraphrasing, but His words have been misunderstood, these words are a reaffirmation, for those who are scared or worried of loosing their faith. He's saying if you stay, stand in your faith there is nothing that can separate you.
Faith calls for us to act, without action faith cannot stand alone. We need to do something to activate it, and if a person looses faith, they loose hope and they can loose the free gift of salvation because they no longer believe in the promises given to them through the cross.
I've seen live beat down people to the point where they think life is a condemnation from God, and this is simply not true, but because they were weak in their faith, knowledge and understanding, they allowed for other understandings to enter their mind and hearts.
We always have a choice, and God cannot go against our free will, even if we are saved. We have to constantly give ourselves over to the good nature within to eventually bear spiritual fruit, and once it is harvested, we have to continually seek out the proper ways to allow more fruit to grow. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit if it is properly aligned, but if fungus and disease grow around the tree, sometimes that desease will catch on the good tree and cause some branches to rot... and over time infect the whole tree.
One cannot be truly born again, in the fact that there are varying degrees of rebirth, either one is or isn't. It is our responsibility to always work out our salvation with fear and trembling and do everything we can to protect it, if it isn't protected, by our actions we alone can go astray and if we can't find our way back, we can loose it.
Scripture tells us that it is impossible for one who has been a believer to fall away and believe again, I've seen this. I've seen a few people believe, or partially believe, but because of reasons that are only known to them personally, they've decided that faith wasn't a sure thing. They still recognized God, and tried to live for Him, but only when it was convenient. One cannot keep waivering faltering, back and forth to do so is to crucify Christ over and over again. Either you are a believer or you are not. And if one constantly gives themselves over to the evil nature within, their hearts will become hardened. And for this reason, Only God can judge our hearts so only God knows who are truly lost lambs, against those who are truly lost.
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Permalink Reply by Faith A on -
The Word of God stated that " many were called, but few are chosen". Also Romans 8:29 confirms that God knows those that are truly His, the chosen ones. My question then is, can a true father ever stop loving his child?
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Permalink Reply by Michael Enitan on -
Once saved ever saved? I doubt it. The Bible says we should work out our SALVATION, with fear and with trembling. The words "work out" means "workout". You can have workout equipment, but if you don't get to the equipment and work out, you will not success when you fight in the ring. Having salvation is like having the workout equipment, but you still have to work out.
Peace
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Permalink Reply by Faith A on
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Point is well received. It is by the grace of God that we are saved. It is not possible to safeguard one's salvation by one's strength or works. The grace of God is what keeps us complete and secured in Him. The Phil 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure". The bible also said that His sheep knows His voice, and the voice of another he will not follow. A child of God can derail from the presence of God temporary when the flesh has not been fully subdue to align with his transformed spirit man, and like the prodigal son, he will return back to the Father. Working out one's salvation with fear and trembling has been given various interpretation. I pray the Holy Spirit gives us the revelation of His word.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Enitan on
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We just have to be careful with assumptions. This issue is of grave importance and should be carefully handled. There was a testimony of a pastor that died and came back to life in Nigeria. In his testimony, he said he was doomed to go to hell, if not that God was granting the request of the rich man that went to hell. Before he died, he had a problem with his wife. His wife slapped him, and he was angry and refused to talk to the wife. On his journey to visit his father, he had an accident and died. And he said because he did not reconcile with his wife, he was not going to heaven. This is a born again pastor. He missed it and was on the way to hell. We should pray and fast for any child of God that is not living right with God.
The fact that your name is written in the book of life today does not mean it cannot be yanked out tomorrow. Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Look at the phrase, "I will not blot out his name" used for those who overcome. It means if we don't overcome sin by the grace God has given us, the name will be blotted out.
It is God that gives the grace, but we can abuse the grace willingly. Look at that the Bible says about grace and sin.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
We can lose the grace if we play and fool around with sin.
The Lord Jesus himself said that only few will be saved.
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Permalink Reply by Student Discipleship Pastor Rob on
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Permalink Reply by Faith A on
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Thank you Jesus for Your grace! Having being adopted into the family of God, we are now His children and have become heirs of God's kingdom. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, ..." Romans 8:17. "For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as result of WORKS, so that no one may boast. ..." Eph. 2:8. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" Phil 2:13. "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. ... Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ... 1 Sam 16:7. "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy" Romans 9:16. Nothing can separate us from Your unconditional love (Romans 8: 34-39).
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Permalink Reply by Michael Enitan on
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We both agree on one thing. We need to be saved. And I believe that both of us are saved and by the grace of God we will not backslide. Amen. But now, we need to help those who are not yet saved to see the light. Amen. Let's do something to preach to others to be saved.
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Permalink Reply by Rob Sadler on -
GOD said in His word, found in Ez. 18:4, "all souls are mines" then He goes on to say in verses 21-32. "When a RIGHTEOUS MAN TURN FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY!.....ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NOT BE REMEMBERED AND HE WILL DIE IN HIS SINS. Now you can't get any plainer than that. There are many scriptures that dispel the once save always save lie. I personally have a problem with "truly" saved. because it passes being a statement, and becomes a judgment by professing Christians, your either saved or your not. Can a person be saved and another be really saved? it's something about the word "truly" that's just my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lawlor on -
Sorry Shannon, but I totally disagree. Jesus said "I give men eternal life, & no-one shall snatch them out of my hand".
Paul said "I am pursuaded that neither death nor life, angels, principalities,powers etc etc nor anything else in all creation, shall seperate us from the love of God."
Dr RT Kendall has written a brilliant book called 'Once Saved always Saved'. I highly recommend it.
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Permalink Reply by Rob Sadler on
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Shannon, your right! according to scripture..no man can snatch a believer out of the hand of Jesus, BUT!!! because God has made us free-will agents, we have a choice to continue in Christ or to turn from Him. It is a matter of personal choice just as salvation is a choice. when you get a chance read Rom. 11:19-23.and Heb 6:4-6, one deals with God rejecting those who were His and the other is those who were His at one time, now turning their backs of God. it's all about choice....be blessed
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